I congratulate You on Your Election, but for much the same Reason as the Turkish Governor not long since, when he could hold out no longer, surrendered to the Russians, he perceived it had been so decreed from the Beginning— Not caring any thing however about the Will, either of the Fates or of the Electors, I am extremely happy You have returned to Us, and I shall be made more so, when I find it generally beleived and declared that what You have done was about right—

The Object of this Letter is principally to inform You of a Matter of Business which I beleive must be attended to as soon as possible after You enter in the Administration of the Government— I was one of the Agents appointed to confer with the St: Regis Indians who came down during the last Sessions of the Legislature, and our Speech to them, their Answer and our Reply, having been sent by the Governor with a Message,1 are in the Hands of Mr: Ker,2 the Clerk of the Assembly, from whom You can have them— These Indians have lately set up a Claim to all the Lands between the two northern Lakes and the River St. Lawrence and almost as far south as Fort Edward, and We have promised to meet and treat with them about it early in the ensuing Fall, so that it will be necessary for You, before the last of July at farthest, to dispatch Your Message to them ascertaining the time and place; and with respect to the latter I should suppose it need not be more distant than Lake George; Fort Edward perhaps would be the most convenient—3 If You should determine to substitute Agents to hold the Treaty, and that it will be most advisable I should be one, or if You should go Yourself and conceive it usefull that I should be with You, I am content, but of this I must be apprized by the first day of the next Term, as We shall then make a Distribution of the Circuits, and most probably one of them will be assigned to Me— You will find the requisite Authority, and Provision for the Expence, in the last Law of the Session—4 There must be a Commissary to procure Provisions Presents &ca., and I will only mention to You, that Mr: John Tayler5 of Albany has been employed in that Capacity at all our late Treaties with the Indians, so that he is not only to be considered as a Sort of Incumhent, but I question whether You will find a more fit Person— This however You will receive as mere Intimation6—

Mr: S. Jones7 was also one of the Agents, and any farther Information which You may wish on the Subject can be obtained from him— You will know from Mr: King whether an Application has been made to the President, and an Appointment of a Commissioner to hold the Treaty under the Authority of the United States has taken place— Vide their Statute of the 1st: March 1793 for regulating Trade and Intercourse with the Indian Tribes8— There is the Rub with Your Predesessor, and I would not trust him to make a full and seasonable Communication of this Business to You— Yours sincerely